Smash Mouth, Eddie Money headline Ford Arts, Beats & Eats

The Oakland Press/TIM THOMPSON
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson speaks at the press conference for the 16th annual Ford Arts, Beats & Eats. The unveiling of the food, artists and musical acts were announced at Hamilin Corner in Royal Oak on Tuesday.

Naming the event’s many sponsors, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson kicked off Tuesday’s press preview at the new Hamlin restaurant in Royal Oak. “The weatherman is going to cooperate and it should be a bigger, better event this year.”

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The admission fee is $3 before 5 p.m., and $5 after that, but people who donate three cans of food at a FirstMerit Bank location will receive a free admission ticket.

Among the area local bands playing this year are Amy Gore & Her Valentines, Thornetta Davis and The Killer Flamingos. More than 200 local bands and entertainers will be performing country, Caribbean, Celtic, rockabilly, and rhythm & blues to gospel, swing, rock, funk, metal, jazz and reggae on nine stages beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30 and ending Monday evening, Sept. 2.

Mike O’Brien, Ford Motor’s Detroit regional sales manager, announced the national acts at the preview. “It’s so great to give back to this community,” said O’Brien. “I look forward to seeing you all over Labor Day weekend.”

The arts, too, will be back in force with 140 artists from across North America vying for cash awards totaling $7,500 in a juried art show that will feature artwork in ceramics, digital art, drawing, fabric/fiber/leather, glass, graphics/printmaking, jewelry, metal, mixed media 2D, mixed media 3D, painting, photography, sculpture and wood.

New this year, the Detroit Institute of Arts will showcase high quality reproductions of artistic masterpieces at Inside|Out on East 7th Street.

The DIA’s ongoing program, Detroit Film Theatre, will present the internationally acclaimed, animated film “A Cat In Paris” for children and cinema buffs alike. The film stars Dino, a cat who lives a double life as a little girl’s lovable pet by day, and a sly “cat” burglar by night. The 65-minute program will be shown during the Labor Day festival inside the Oakland County Parks Kids Zone from 8:30-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

The second annual Deaf Arts Festival featuring the work of a number of outstanding artists who are deaf and hard of hearing will be located in the Urbane Apartments Parking Lot on Seventh St. between Washington and Center streets.

Proceeds from the festival, which to date has raised $4.2 million, are donated to local nonprofits.

A special “Salute to the Troops” concert and luncheon for disabled veterans and their families, sponsored by Oakland County Parks, will be held Sept. 1. In addition, 2,000 free admission passes redeemable any day of the festival will be distributed by local veterans organizations. Call 248-541-7550.

Event producer Jonathan Witz said 25 people submitted drawings for the festival poster and then introduced Jennifer Allore, a Utica art teacher whose work was selected.

Get an early taste at the Arts du Jour charity preview

A “sneak peek” of Arts, Beats and Eats — Arts du Jour charity preview — will be held Aug. 22 at the plaza outside the Royal Oak Library and City Hall. The event provides a sampling of the music and food from more than 45 of metro Detroit’s restaurants, eateries, sweet shops and boutiques including Prime 29 Steakhouse, Café Muse and Eskimo Jacks featured at the Arts, Beats & Eats festival.